Childrens play area sunshade canopy

ABSTRACT

A demountable, wind-resistant sun shade canopy for shading childrens&#39; play areas or other actively used areas. The canopy cover, being removably secured over a metal support structure, is comprised of vertical columns upon which are mounted at the upper end thereof respectively, uniquely configured bracket fittings, each bracket fitting providing secure mounting for a cantilever beam extending outwardly toward the perimeter of the area to be shaded, and providing secure mounting for a hip beam extending upward and toward the inner portion of the area to be shaded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to de-mountable sunshade canopystructures and in particular sunshade canopies for ultraviolet (UV) sunray protection of childrens' play areas.

[0002] It is increasingly acknowledged that physically challengingoutdoor play structures are of benefit to the physical and emotionaldevelopment of young children. A code of safety specifications for theconstruction and maintenance of childrens' play structures has beendeveloped by National Play and Playground Authorities, published (1996)by the National Recreation and Park Association Arlington, Va. Theseconstruction specifications describe construction features for supportof childrens' slides, swings, climbing apparatus, etc. which minimizerisk of injury to children engaged in all manner of predictable use andmisuse of the play structures.

[0003] The specifications require that the play structures be mounted ona platform or on towers elevated up to six feet above a resilient(non-hardened) surface such as cork or rubber panels, and the towers orplatform be supported by a very limited number of support columns. Thecolumns are to be capped at the top and without exterior fittings onwhich a child could be caught or injured while climbing upon or fallingfrom the platform or tower. The support columns are capped at the top todiscourage a child from climbing or holding on suspended from the columntop. The vertical support columns have been in the past a source ofinjures to children engaged in unintended use of these structures.Accordingly, the minimum number of vertical support columns, all free ofhand or foot holds, has become a specification for acceptable safedesign.

[0004] Separate from the safe construction design specificationsreferred to above which have and are significantly reducing playgroundinjuries there is a growing theat to childrens' health when they areengaged in outdoor play and exercise in the sun shine.

[0005] The earth's protective atmosphere ozone layer has beensignificantly depleted due to release of chemical pollutants into theatmosphere during the last five decades. The result of the ozonedepletion is that the solar ultraviolet (UV) rays are significantly moreintense and comprise a serious health risk to children withoutprotection when playing in the now unfiltered UV sun radiation.

[0006] In 1930 the risk of developing melanoma from sun exposure was 1in 1500 people. Today a person's risk of developing skin cancer at sometime during their life as a result of UV exposure is 1 in 75 people.Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with morethan one million new cases diagnosed each year. Currently this year47,700 Americans will be diagnosed with life threatening melanoma and7,700 will die of the disease. The current prognosis for this disease isthat approximately 1 out of 5 children in the United States willexperience some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. Furthermore,exposure to the current intensity of solar UV radiation reduces theeffectiveness of the immune system. This effect is of special importancein children's health.

[0007] Sources of the above statistics are to be found in publicationsof the American Academy of Dermatology, American Cancer Society,National Institutes of Health, U.S. Center for Disease Control andProtection and the Australian Cancer Society.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is a first object of our invention to provide a sturdy, windresistant, demountable canopy structure suitable for shading achildrens' play area from direct rays of the sun.

[0009] Another object of our invention is to provide a sturdy, windresistant, demountable sun shade canopy for mounting on vertical supportcolumns as used in childrens' standard safe outdoor play structures. Thesun shade canopy structure as described herein, is in full compliancewith recommended safety specifications for childrens' play areas.

[0010] Still another object of our invention is to provide a sturdy,wind resistant, demountable sun shade canopy design adaptable toretrofit existing small area and extended childrens' play areainstallations with effective sun shade protection.

[0011] These and other objects and advantages and diverse uses of ourinvention will be apparent from consideration of the followingillustrations, specifications and claims.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A demountable, wind resistant sun shade canopy suitable formounting on a limited number of vertical columns, erected for thepurpose of, or suitable for mounting on, extensions of a limited numberof standard safe play area support columns. The canopy supportstructure, comprised of a plurality of uniquely shaped brackets which,when each is fixedly mounted, respectively, to the top of a verticalcolumn, provides at each column a mount for a cantilever extendingoutward toward the perimeter of the area to be shaded, andsimultaneously provides for mount of a hip beam extending toward theinner portion of the area to be shaded. Thus an extended-area rigidsupport structure is provided over a designated area which may bedependably shaded from the sun rays when a high density knittedpolyethylene porous canopy cover is placed over the unique bracketsupported plurality of cantilever and hip beam support members andsecured about the perimeter of the canopy cover with an adjustabletension means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an existing safe playstructure without sun protection; the play structure is shown mountedabove a resilient ground cover.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a cross section of the upper portion of a support columntaken along the plane 2-2.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a plane view of a specified safe design single towerchildrens' play area on which our innovative sun shade canopy has beenerected; the play and exercise devices are shown in phantom lines.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view of the embodiment of ourinvention shown in FIG. 3 with portions of the play structures andcanopy support members shown in phantom.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a construction bracket formounting cantilever beam and hip beam members to form a supportstructure for mounting the canopy cover.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a cross section of the construction bracket shown inFIG. 5 taken on the plane 6-6.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a plane view of the connector for the four hip beamcanopy support members shown in the embodiment of our sun shade canopyillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the hip beam connector illustratedin FIG. 7.

[0021]FIG. 9 shows detail of means for fastening the canopy cover to thesupport structure with adjustable tension means.

[0022]FIG. 10 shows a section of an extended end of the cantilevermember showing means for securing the canopy cover.

[0023]FIG. 11 is an elevation view of a second embodiment of our sunshade canopy structure mounted to cover a two tower specified safechildren's play area.

[0024]FIG. 12 is a plane view of the embodiment of our sun shade canopyshown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 11. The children's play areadevices are shown in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] A safe design childrens' play structure is illustrated in FIG. 1wherein a plurality of fixedly mounted vertical columns 12 a, 12 b, 12 cand 12 d are shown. The columns 12 a, 12 b etc. are mounted infoundations (not shown) beneath a resilient ground cover 14. The groundcover may be made of rubber or cork matted materials to soften impactand reduce injuries to a child falling thereon.

[0026] The columns support a platform 16 from which a slide 18, a closedchute 20 and other childrens' climbing and exercise devices may bepositioned.

[0027] The upper end of conventionally designed vertical columns 12 a,12 b, 12 c, 12 d is shown in FIG. 2 in cross section on plane 2-2. Acolumn cap 22 fits over the top of the column 12 d. The cap 22 is shapedwith a reduced diameter lower section 24 which, when inserted into thehollow opening 26 of the vertical column, comprises a secure mount forthe column cap. Although such conventionally designed columns are fullycompatible with the invention, in order to avoid the possibility ofrainwater leaking into the seam between lower portion 24 and column 12d, it is preferable to have the columns designed as depicted in FIG. 6,where the upper end of column 12 a, 12 b, etc. has a smaller diameterthan bracket 52 so that rainwater will flow over the juncture betweenthe two without entering the seam.

[0028]FIGS. 1 and 2 are illustrative of safe childrens' play structuresin compliance with the safety specifications developed by the NationalPlay and Playground Authorities, At this date there are tens ofthousands of such play structures erected and being erected in theUnited States without provision for effective sun shade for childrenusing such structures.

[0029] A plan view of a first embodiment of our invention is shown inFIG. 3 wherein a canopy cover 30 is shown supported over structuralmembers described below which in turn are mounted above a children'splay structure area. Children's exercise and play devices are shown at32 in phantom lines below the canopy 30.

[0030] A cross section elevation of the FIG. 3 embodiment is shown inFIG. 4 taken on plane 44. Vertical columns 34 and 36 are fixedly mountedrespectively in concrete foundation footings 40 and 42. The verticalcolumns support a platform or deck 44. The columns 34,36 terminate atapproximately four feet above the platform or deck 44. Caps 22 such asshown in FIG. 2 have been removed from the upper column portions 60,62of the columns 34, 36 exposing the tops 48, 50 respectively, of columns34 and 36. Structural bracket fittings 55 and 57 have lower ends 56, 58,which, fit over the tops 48,50 of columns 34 and 36.

[0031]FIGS. 5 and 6 are illustrative of the structural brackets fittings55 and 57; more specifically, FIG. 5 depicts bracket 55 in a perspectivecut-away fragmentary view while FIG. 6 is a view of the structuralbracket 55 shown as a cross section on plane 6-6. In preferredembodiments, the lower portion 56 of structural bracket 55 fits over thereduced diameter upper end 52 of the upper column portion 60. In rainyweather, water will flow over the juncture of lower portion 56 and upperend 52 and will not enter the seam where it might cause damage.

[0032] The upper end of the bracket is terminated with a transverseangularly mounted cylindrical rod 64. The rod 64 is mounted at an acuteangle with the vertical cylinder extension. The angle with thehorizontal is normally 22 degrees, but is subject to adjustment asrequired for specific application.

[0033] Mounted as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the cylindrical rod 64 hasan upper, or first end 68, and a lower, or second 70, end. Hip beam 72comprises a straight section of a hollow metal steel pipe or rod. Thehip beam 72 is positioned over the upper, or first end 68, of the anglemounted cylindrical rod 64 and secured with threaded bolt means 76passed through the hip beam 72 and the cylindrical rod 64.

[0034] The lower or second end 70 of the solid metal rod 64 is mountedover a cantilever beam 80 comprised of a straight section of hollowsteel pipe at its upper end and secured with threaded means 81. Thelower end of the cantilever beam is terminated with an oblong eyeletconnector 84.

[0035] As shown in fragment view in FIGS. 7 and 8 the four hip beams72,74 and counter parts 72 a, 74 a terminate in juxtaposition and aresecured together with a right angle joint 86.

[0036] Referring now to FIG. 3, a porous woven polyethylene canopy cover30 is placed over the structure comprised of hip beam members 72, 72 a,74, 74 a, and cantilever beam members 80, 80 a, 82, 82 a. The canopydetails are more clearly shown in FIG. 9. The canopy cover 30 is securedabout its perimeter with a tension cable 90 which is secured within acable channel 92 sewn about the canopy perimeter 94. The tension on thecable 90 is adjusted and maintained with a turnbuckle 96. The canopycover 30 is provided at its four corners with a reinforced opening 98through which the oblong eyelet connector 84 located on the extreme endof the cantilever beam 80 and its counterpart cantilever beams 82, etc.protrudes.

[0037] A second embodiment of our invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11and 12 wherein a two tower safe design children's play area is shown.The play and exercise devices are shown in phantom lines. A porous shadecanopy 104 fabricated with woven polyethylene strips is constructedsimilarly to the single tower canopy cover 30. The two tower canopycover 104 is sewn so that it provides a cable channel 106. A tensioncable 108 is threaded through the channel 106 and when positioned overthe metal support structure of hip beams 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, etc. ridgebeam 112 and cantilever beams 114 a, 114 b, 114 c, etc. forms a sunshadecanopy. A turnbuckle tension means 116 is attached to the ends of thecable 108 to provide adjustment and to maintain cable tension.

[0038] The canopy cover 104 is provided at each corner with a reinforcedopening 98 as shown in FIG. 9, through which the oblong eyelet connector84 on the cantilever beam extends.

[0039] The purposes and other advantages to our invention and possibleapplication to sun sheltering purposes beyond those described inconnection with children's play areas will be apparent from thefollowing claims.

1. A demountable wind resistant sun shade canopy for shading achildren's play area or other actively used area comprising a pluralityof vertical columns having, respectively, upper ends, a plurality ofstructural connector brackets mounted on the column upper ends, thestructural brackets each having a rod mounted to the bracket at an angleto the horizontal, the rods each, respectively, having an upper endprojection and a lower end projection, a plurality of cantilever beams,the cantilever beams, respectively, secured by means to the lowerprojection of the rods, and a plurality of hip beams, the hip beams,respectively, secured to the upper projections of the rods, and a canopycover, the canopy cover being formed with porous woven polyethylenestrips or equivalent, the canopy cover having a tension means fastenedabout its periphery, whereby a removable sun shade canopy is placed overthe hip beams, and over the cantilever beams and secured about theperiphery of the canopy with the tension means at the outer extensionsof the cantilever beams.
 2. A demountable sun shade canopy structurecomprised of a plurality of fixedly mounted vertical column members, thevertical column members having, respectively, open hollow upper ends, aplurality of structural bracket fittings, respectively, comprised of acylindrical lower section fitted into the open hollow upper ends,respectively, of the of the vertical column members, the bracketsprovided, respectively, with a short cylindrical member fixedly attachedat an acute angle to the vertical cylindrical lower section, the shortcylindrical angularly mounted members, respectively, having upper andlower ends, straight hip beam members, respectively, securely mounted tothe angularly mounted cylindrical upper ends, means for securelyattaching the upper ends of the hip beam members together at theirrespective upper ends, and a plurality of cantilever beams, beingsecurely mounted at the lower end of the angularly mounted cylindricalmembers, the second end of the cantilever beam having a short curvedhook extending axially from the cantilever beam and a porous wovencanopy cover, the canopy cover provided with a channel sewn about itsperimeter, a cable with tension means positioned in the canopy channel,the porous canopy cover, supported over the hip beams and extending overthe cantilever beams, the canopy cover secured at the perimeter thereofby the cantilever beam curved hooks and further held in tension by meansof the cable and tension means, whereby a demountable sun shade canopyis securely supported over the hip beams and cantilever beams to provideshade from direct sun rays for an area.
 3. A light weight wind resistantbroad area sunshade canopy comprised of four vertical columns, eachcolumn having, respectively, rigidly, mounted lower ends, andrespectively, open sleeve upper ends, four connector joint members eachcomprised of a horizontal planar base a vertical insert member rigidlymounted to the lower surface of the base and adopted to fit securelyinto the sleeve opening of the upper end of the vertical columns,cylindrical elbow members, each respectfully, mounted vertically ontothe upper surface of the horizontal planar base, the elbows each havingan upper angled top plate, the top plate being fixedly mountedrespectively to the upper angled plane of the elbows, respectively ahollow tube mounted onto the angled upper side of the top plate, acylindrical hip beam member adopted to fit telescopically into theanglely mounted hollow tube and means to secure the hip beam into thehollow tube, a cantilever beam member adopted to fit telescopically intothe lower extension of the hollow tube means to securely join the fourhip beam members at their respective upper ends, a woven sun rayresistant canopy cover mounted over the four extended hip beams and thefour extended cantilever beam members, the canopy cover being securedwith a peripheral tension means, whereby a sun ray shade canopy may beprovided over the extended area.
 4. A sun shade canopy and windresistant support therefor for wide area cover of a children's playarea, the play area having a limited number of safety compliant verticalcolumns on to which vertical columns childrens' challenging exercisedevices are mounted, the sun shade canopy support structure comprising aplurality of hollow, straight hip beam members, the hip beam membersbeing mounted at an angle to the horizontal plane and each having anupper and a lower end, the hip beam members positioned to converge atthe respective upper ends thereof, means for firmly attaching togetherthe upper ends, respectively, of the hip beams, the lower ends of thehip beams, respectively, being each mounted to an angled connectorjoint, the angled connector joint comprised of a cylindrical verticalextension and a hollow retaining member, the retaining member beingfixedly attached at an angle to the cylindrical vertical extension andhaving an upper end and a lower end, a plurality of straight cantileverbeam extenders, the cantilever beam extenders being sized to fittelescopically, and snugly over, respectively, the lower end of an anglemounted retaining member and extending substantially outward to aposition above a point on the play area perimeter, the cylindricalvertical extension of the angled connector joints being, respectively,mounted by means to the uppermost end of the play area, safety compliantvertical columns, and a woven canopy cover positioned over and supportedby the plurality of hip beams and the cantilever beam members, thefabric canopy cover being secured about the perimeter thereof with atension member, whereby the play area may be effectively shielded fromthe sun's rays over its active area utilizing only extensions ofvertical support structures integral to mounting.